Aloha Brothers and Sisters,
I am truly honored to stand before you today and wish to thank all of those who have made this possible. I am grateful for my wonderful wife Stephanie and wish to thank her for her introduction. I am grateful for each of my children, Alison, Sariah, Grant, and Isaac. They have brought immense joy into my life and I am a better person for being their father. I am grateful for my parents, Robert and Janene Marcum. They are people full of faith and I am blessed to carry their name. I hope that what I say today will reflect well on them. I am grateful to all you who have touched my life for good. It is a privilege to be among you. As President Hinckley said after his call as a general authority, “all of us are largely the products of the lives which touch upon our lives, and today I feel profoundly grateful for all who have touched mine.” (“An Expression of Gratitude,” April 1958 General Conference)
Like many of you, when our family moved to Hawaii, we wanted to try surfing. Although surfing was difficult at first, my wife and I fell in love with it. Now, surfing is one our favorite things to do together. On our Friday night dates we will often enjoy the last waves of the day. But, like most worthwhile things surfing is not always problem-free. Let me tell you about my first surfing accident. It was a beautiful day and the surfing break was more crowded than usual. After catching a wave, out of the corner of my eye, I could see that an inexperienced young lady caught the same wave. Soon, we were on a collision course. I quickly sat down on my board and tried to back out of the wave. She also saw our potential collision and panicked, half-fell and half-jumped off the back of her board into the water. The force of her jumping off the back of her board forced the board forward at what seemed like blinding speed. From my sitting position I tried to go under the water, but I was too slow. The tip of her very hard surf board hit me, splitting my head open above my eye. I was badly dazed, but fortunately still conscious. When I surfaced, I checked the spot of collision with my hand and could see I was bleeding badly. I knew I needed to get to shore quickly. As I paddled, I could feel myself getting more and more light-headed and I felt like I was going to faint and fall into the water. Luckily, another surfer saw my situation and helped me to shore. After a trip to the hospital and a few stitches, all was well.
After getting my stitches off, I looked forward to getting back into the water. However, the next time I went surfing, as I swam out to the break, an intense feeling of fear and dread overcame me. It made my heart beat rapidly and every time I caught a wave I thought every surfer within 20 feet was a hospital visit waiting to happen. I began to think, what if I get hit again? What if I don’t stay conscious? What if I can’t get back to shore? I could drown. I have a family to take care of. Suddenly, surfing wasn’t worth the risk. So, I swam out of the water and watched my family from the shore. Sad, right? Fear is powerful.
Elder Bednar taught us in April conference,
“... after partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve hid themselves in the Garden of Eden. God called unto Adam and asked, ‘Where art thou? And [Adam answered], I heard thy voice … , and I was afraid’ (Genesis 3:9–10). Notably, one of the first effects of the Fall was for Adam and Eve to experience fear.” (“Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” April 2015 General Conference)
We live in a potentially scary time. Paul, in his letter to Timothy said,
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” (2 Timothy 3: 1-4)
Many of you and your families have been hurt personally by Satan’s efforts. Like my surfing accident made me reconsider surfing, these conditions and experiences are causing many of you to fear. So, brothers and sisters, what are those fears? From my interactions with you, I have noticed that many of you are worried about the increasing wickedness in the world. You know that it is likely that many will ridicule us, belittle us, and hate us for our beliefs. I know some of you wonder if an ideal family is possible. Can you really have a happy family when so many suffer from the affects of divorce, abuse, drugs, alcohol, pornography, etcetera? My hope today is that the Holy Ghost will give you confidence in these matters, so that you can move forward in faith.
Let’s talk about the emotion of fear. I learned a couple of things from my surfing accident about it. First, it can’t be trusted. Our bodies are extraordinary, God’s greatest physical creation. They produce many different types of feelings. Some are more reliable than others. Love, joy, faith, longsuffering, all can be trusted. But, fear is the great deceiver. It can rob us of what is good in life. For me, I love to be in the water. There is a peace and serenity to surfing that I enjoy. The consistency of the surfing break, the sound of the waves and feel of the water as you glide across it. For a short time, fear robbed me of that. The surf and the water became treacherous, and the people threatening. Neither of which are true.
The second thing I learned from my accident is that fears can be calmed, and replaced with peace. Fear need not plague us. In his most recent address, Elder Bednar used Alma’s people as an example:
“In the land of Helam, Alma’s people were frightened by an advancing Lamanite army.
‘But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but … should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.
‘Therefore they hushed their fears’ (Mosiah 23:27–28).
Notice Alma did not hush the people’s fears. Rather, Alma counseled the believers to remember the Lord and the deliverance only He could bestow (see 2 Nephi 2:8). And knowledge of the Savior’s protecting watchcare enabled the people to hush their own fears.” (“Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” April 2015 General Conference)
When the Savior told his disciples of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, that they would be afflicted, hated, and even killed, his disciples were fearful. Jesus asked them to calm their fears. He told them, “Be not troubled, for, when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled”
We must believe in Christ. That he is good on his word. Can we live happily and stand up for our beliefs in a wicked world? Can we raise happy and righteous families? The simple answer to this question is a resounding, YES! God has commanded. Nephi was right. God prepares a way for us to fulfill His commandments. He has promised blessings for our obedience. D&C 59:23 states:
But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.
God will make good on these promises. There is a reward waiting for us. But that reward is not just waiting for us, peace is available now. Peace brothers and sisters. Not doubt, not worry, not fear, but peace. President Hinckley stated:
“As I look to the future, I see little to feel enthusiastic about concerning the family in America and across the world… [but] I see a wonderful future in a very uncertain world. If we will cling to our values, if we will build on our inheritance, if we will walk in obedience before the Lord, if we will simply live the gospel we will be blessed in a magnificent and wonderful way. We will be looked upon as a peculiar people who have found the key to a peculiar happiness.” ("Look to the Future," October 1997 General Conference)
Let me show you a clip from Elder Holland that he gave, not 3 months ago:
[video]
“The momentum that began in a grove of trees in upstate New York two centuries ago will continue to roll forth, unabated and undeniable—Daniel’s stone cut out of the mountain without hands. 5 That scriptural kingdom will be triumphant, and it will prevail. Unlike every other era before us, this dispensation will not experience an institutional apostasy; it will not see a loss of priesthood keys; it will not suffer a cessation of revelation from the voice of Almighty God. Individuals will apostatize, they may turn a deaf ear to heaven, but never again will the dispensation collectively do so. What a secure thought that is! What a day in which to live! What a way to cut through fear or faintheartedness….
We know for certain that if and when everything else in the latter days is down or dying; if governments, economies, industries, and institutions crumble; if societies and cultures become a quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless, through it all the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that bears that gospel to the world will stand triumphant. It will stand undefiled in God’s hand until the very Son of God Himself comes to rule and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings. Nothing is more certain in this world. Nothing is more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to anxiety. As the Prophet Joseph declared, and as a generation of missionaries quote with fervor: The truth of God will sweep every country and sound in every ear. No unhallowed hand can stop it from progressing. Still true.”
(“Be not Afraid, Only Believe,” An Evening with a General Authority, February 6, 2015)
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Satan is on a rampage. Yes. But, his temper tantrum is nothing compared to the glorious and magnificent work that God is doing. We have so much to believe in, so much to have confidence in.
Do you remember the story of Gideon in the Book of Judges? For those of you unfamiliar. Gideon was called by the Lord to save Israel from bondage to the Midianites. He saved Israel with only 300 weaponless men. I believe these 300 men are great examples of how to calm fears and replace those fears with peace from God.
Imagine, that invaders have largely destroyed your land. These Midianites have killed many you love and your family is on the verge of starvation. You hear a messenger come through your village claiming that Gideon—someone you do not know—is gathering together an army to fight the Midianites. You want freedom so much, you are willing to fight for it. So you go. You arrive at the army's camp. Sure enough Gideon’s army is large, 32,000 strong. But, from what you hear, the Midianites still heavily outnumber you. Then your leader does something unimaginable. He gathers together your great army and commands, “whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart”. To your astonishment, many, more than two thirds of the army, leave.
Soon, you find out that Gideon is not done trimming your number. One day, after getting a drink of water, Gideon sends most of your army back to their tents. When I say most, I really mean pretty much everyone. In fact, there are only 300 of you left. 300! The tabernacle choir has more members than that. Then, you receive your orders. Your band of 300 are to surround the Midianite host by night, but not with swords, or spears, but with a ram’s horn and a lamp concealed by a water pitcher. On Gideon’s signal, you are to blow your horn, break the water pitcher—exposing your lamp, and yell. Then you are to stand there. Not run, not attack, just stand there. Those are your orders. Imagine you are standing there in the dark. Would you be able to reveal your location to your enemies? Then, stand there, holding your light? Well, they did. And they watched as confusion spread through the Midianite camp and the Midianites slaughtered each other then ran away. How were they able to do this? Here is what I learn from them.
First, Gideon’s people desired to be free of the Midianites more than anything else. I believe that spiritual courage must be driven by a deep and intense desire to do good, to be obedient, and to be free of, fear, doubt, anger, pain & sorrow. A deep desire to enjoy God’s promised blessings, including the blessings of family.
Second, we must realize that we need help and we cannot overcome our fears on our own. Before Gideon formed his army, the children of Israel did try to free themselves from the Midianites without the help of God. They built strongholds and caves in the hills for a defense. Unfortunately, this left their fields and flocks exposed, and the Midianites destroyed “the increase of the earth” (Judges 6:4). As smart as their plan seemed, without the Lord, it only made their situation more difficult.
Too many turn to other sources, including friends, books, experts, or Facebook for answers, comfort, and reassurance. It is not that the advice of others are always evil (even though sometimes it is), these sources of wisdom are more often simply powerless. Just as these 300 soldiers could not be free of the Midianites without God’s help and Gideon’s inspired counsel, all of us cannot be free from the sorrow, sin, fear, and doubt without the Atonement of Christ and the guidance of his prophets. As King Benjamin taught, “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17)
I bear my witness that it is only through Jesus Christ the redeemer of the world that we can have joy, peace, and courage in this life.
Third, we must commune with God. After Israel became impoverished from the Midianite destruction, they finally cried unto God for help. Communing with God includes meaningful prayer and consistent scripture study.
After my surfing accident, my family began a tradition of praying before surfing. After we pull the boards out of the truck, we pray, and ask for God’s protection, guidance, and an awe for his creations. This simple act reminds me that God is in control. While I needed to be wise and not take unnecessary risks, I did not need to fear. All of us can pray to God for help. We all can feel the peace that comes from recognizing God is over all, and all things are in His hands. As D&C 10:5 states, “Pray always… that you may conquer Satan”. Conquering Satan includes conquering fear.
But, seeking God’s help, cannot only include prayer. We must study what he has said through his prophets. One of the interesting parts of the story of Gideon is the phrase they shouted. In the original Hebrew, Gideon simply asks them to shout, “The Lord and Gideon”. However, when the shout came the soldiers added something. They yelled, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon”. Why did they add sword? It was a reference to an experience of their ancestors, a scriptural story they drew courage from. A few generations earlier the captain of the Lord’s host, who probably was Christ himself, visited Joshua with a sword in his hand. He gave Joshua strange instructions on how to defeat Jericho. Joshua’s army surrounded Jericho, blew trumpets, and the walls came tumbling down.
I am sure this story inspired Gideon’s men. Just like their ancestors, they surrounded their enemy holding horn trumpets and their ancestor’s success gave them courage. We too can draw courage from the scriptures and from our righteous ancestors. Please, brothers and sisters, spend some time everyday with God’s word. Do not neglect this. You cannot afford to. When Jesus warned that in the last days many of his elect would be deceived, including the deception of fear, he gave us all a guarantee against deception. He said,
“And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37)
I love that word treasure. I think it communicates that God’s word is not something read like a novel, or in the case of General Conference, watched like a Movie. God’s word needs to be considered carefully, pondered on, and prayed about.
But, the word treasure also implies an important no-no. You cannot treasure the scriptures and be critical of the prophets. Notice that Gideon did some strange things that would not have made much sense. Decreasing the army to 300. Only using trumpets and lamps, instead of weapons. Your church leaders may do something that you do not understand, or even disagree with. This does not give you the right to be critical of them. Joseph Smith once said,
“I will give you one of the [keys] of the mysteries of the kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.” (Joseph Smith, DHC, vol. 3 p. 385.)
Joseph knew this from sad experience. Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, David Whitmer — the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon—, Sidney Rigdon — His counselor in the First Presidency—, Thomas Marsh—President of the Quorum of the Twelve—, all fell. If they fell, all of us can fall. All we have to do is say, “The prophet is wrong, I know a better way”.
Fourth - once we know what the Lord expects, we must act with courage. Not too long after my surfing accident, I overcame my fear. But I had to get in the water. I know that Satan is using fear on many of you so that you will not step “into the water” of dating and courtship, or marriage. You must believe in Jesus Christ and follow the prophets. They have encouraged you to pursue marriage. They have not said to wait until you finish school or have a steady career. They have not said that you need to enjoy life first. They have not made exceptions from one culture to another. The world teaches you to wait to marry for one reason or another. These beliefs are often driven by fear, usually taught by someone who had a bad experience. Do some have tragic experiences in their marriage? Of course. But this does not mean that marriage is unsafe for everyone else. That is like me, after my surfing accident, standing on the beach and screaming, “don’t get in the water, you will get hit in the head.”
You must be active in your pursuit of an eternal companion. You must follow and exercise faith. Marriage is part of your mission here. Now, I know that some of you will try faithfully to be married while you are here, and will not succeed. That is okay. The Lord has you in mind and will provide marriage in His time. But, for the most part, there is too much complacency and fear among you when it comes to dating and marriage. If you are to enjoy the blessings the Lord has in store, you must hush these fears, and move forward in faith.
As I mentioned, some of you worry over the persecution that accompanies a faithful life. This fear of man may convince you to hide your faith. Acting with courage requires us to act publicly. Just as Gideon’s small force powerfully made themselves known to their enemies, we must expose our faith to others. The world tries to force us to make our faith a private matter. On the other hand, Christ requires that our faith be a public announcement. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Now, I know that most of you, especially those here at devotional, are good examples, and you strive to be a good example to others. But, I would like to mention a couple of commandments where we need more good examples.
In 1997 President Hinckley said,
“The Sabbath of the Lord is becoming the play day of the people. It is a day of golf and football on television, of buying and selling in our stores and markets. Are we moving to mainstream America as some observers believe? In this I fear we are. What a telling thing it is to see the parking lots of the markets filled on Sunday in communities that are predominately LDS.
“Our strength for the future, our resolution to grow the Church across the world, will be weakened if we violate the will of the Lord in this important matter. He has so very clearly spoken anciently and again in modern revelation. We cannot disregard with impunity that which He has said.” (“Look to the Future,” October 1997 General Conference)
Now, let me show you something very interesting:
This graph shows how many new convert baptisms the church received each year, since 1970. You can see in recent years things have flattened a bit. Now, what strikes me is the changing point. If we look at everything before 1997 you can see a pretty steep growth line. But, everything after 1997, is fairly flat. In 1997, when President Hinckley gave this message, that year we had 317,798 convert baptisms. Last year it was 296,803. Now is our inability to live the Sabbath day as a people the sole cause of this this leveling off? I doubt it. In fact in the same talk given in 1997, President Hinckley also included other commandments concerned him. But, I know that those store parking lots in LDS communities are still full. Here, in Laie, we are still using Sunday as a day for watching football, or going to the beach. Far too many of us use the Sabbath as our playday. In our society, even in Laie, there is quite a bit of pressure to break the Sabbath. But, we cannot give in. We must live this commandment and let others know that those who live the Sabbath day live the fuller happier life, and those who do not live it are the ones that are missing out.
I love the Sabbath day. It rejuvenates me and is the happiest day of my week. I get to feel the spirit with great people at church. I enjoy the spiritual time at home with my wife and children. I get to serve others in my calling, meet with them, and feel the spirit with them. I love to do these things. I would never trade these blessings for a football game or surfing. Such a trade would be crazy.
But making our home holy cannot just be a Sunday exercise. One of the phrases that I love in the story of Gideon is: “And they stood every man in his place” I am reminded of D&C 45:32, which reads:
“But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.”
Brothers and sisters are you standing in Holy places? Is your apartment or dorm a holy place? I know that many of you, for some reason, are afraid of what your roommates will think if you tell them that the music they listen to, the video game they are playing, or the show they are watching is offensive to you. But, brothers and sisters, having the place you live be a Holy Place is of primary importance. As great as this campus, the church, and the temple are, they are not enough. Your most important Holy place is where you live. You must work with your roommates at creating a place where the Spirit can truly be always with you. You cannot afford to permit inappropriate video games, music, movies, or language to offend the spirit. Satan does not leave empty homes vacant. Once the Spirit is gone Satan and his angels will move in. You and your roommates must pray together, discuss the gospel together, listen and sing wholesome music together, and invite the spirit through uplifting and positive conversation.
Fortunately, in addition to your home, you have the church and the temple available to you. What an amazing blessing it is to have the temple so close. I know we refer to this school as the Lord’s university. And in many ways that is appropriate. However, the temple is really where the Lord teaches each of us personally. It is a place where He will teach you.
Not only that, the temple is where we recruit ministering angels to help us in our fight against the adversary. Malachi taught through temple work, the hearts of the fathers would turn to their children, and vice versa. Joseph F. Smith taught:
“Our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.” (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1970, pp. 435–36.)
Every time we go to the temple and do work for our families that have passed on, we help them be worthy of the right and privilege to be ministering angels. One of the saddest things I ever heard said on this campus was at a fast and testimony meeting a few years ago. A sister, who was graduating, shared in her testimony that she had been at the school for four years but only attended the temple three times. What a tragedy. Brothers and sisters, please make it a priority to visit the Lord’s house as often as you can. Think how much you would grow if you could say, after being her four years, that you attended the temple 100 times, instead of 3.
I know brothers and sisters that the world is going to get worse. More and more families are going to fall apart. Every generation will have to be better than the one preceding it to have the joy of the gospel, free of fear and doubt. I do not fear the evil of the world, but I do look forward to the day when Christ will cleanse these evils from this earth. But, he will not come until his work is complete. How quickly he comes to save us from an increasingly evil world is partly up to us. The prophets are trying to get us to hasten Christ’s work. But, we cannot hasten His work unless we are more obedient as a people and let that obedience shine. I am reminded of the Savior’s words to Joseph and Oliver,
“Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.” (D&C 6: 33-37)
We must be do better. We can do better. We will do better. Of this I am sure. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.